Formatting Connectors in PowerPoint 2013

Learn how to format connectors in PowerPoint 2013.

Author:Geetesh Bajaj

Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint 2013OS: Windows 7 and 8

Date Created: April 29th 2014Last Updated: April 29th 2014

Connectors may be different than lines in some ways because they are linked to the shapes they connect --
move the linked shape, and the connector repositions itself with the shape. Yet in other ways, connectors are
just like conventional
lines in
PowerPoint, especially when you explore their formatting options. You can thus add arrowheads to your
connectors (or remove them), make your connector a dashed line rather than an undashed one, and also change
the thickness of the connector. To format a connector, follow these steps:

Select the connector that you want to edit, right-click on it to open a contextual menu as you can see
in Figure 1. Within the contextual menu, choose the Format Shape option.

Figure 1: Format Shape option within contextual menu

This opens the Format ShapeTask Pane that you can see in
Figure 2. Make sure that the Fill tab is selected (highlighted in
red within Figure 2). Within the Line section,
select the Solid line radio button (highlighted in blue within
Figure 2).

Figure 2: Line formatting options within Format Shape Task Pane

All the Line formatting options (highlighted in green area
within Figure 2, above) are explained below:

Width: Here you can increase or decrease the line weight (thickness) to any value you want.

Cap type: This option allows you to choose between a Square,
Round, or Flat line end type, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Cap types

Join type: This allows you to choose between Round,
Bevel, and Miter joins, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Join type drop-down menu

You can also customize the arrow style by changing the Begin Arrow type, the
Begin Arrow size, the End Arrow type, and the
End Arrow size.

Figure 7 shows the Begin Arrow type drop-down -- the
End Arrow type drop-down has the same options. In both these drop-downs, you'll find options
for 5 arrow styles, and a No Arrow option.

Figure 7: Begin Arrow type options

You also have nine different choices regarding the size of the arrowhead, starting from
Arrow L Size 1 to Arrow L Size 9 (letter L stands for left).
Figure 8 shows you the Begin size drop-down, and not surprisingly, the
End size drop-down offers the same options! But the only difference will be that the letter
R will replace the letter L denoting Right. Learn more in our
Formatting Arrows
(Arrowheads) in PowerPoint 2013 tutorial.

Figure 8: Begin Arrow size options

Select the formatting options and format the connector as required. Figure 9 shows the connector that we started with, after applied with some of the formatting options.

Have your ever used keyboard shortcuts and sequences in PowerPoint? Or are you a complete keyboard aficionado? Do you want to learn about some new shortcuts? Or do you want to know if your favorite keyboard shortcuts are documented?